Method for processing a side edge of a panel, and a device for carrying out the method

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for processing a side edge of a panel ( 2 ), in particular a floor panel, with a top ( 18 ) and a bottom ( 19 ), which on at least two side edges lying opposite one another has profiles corresponding to one another such that two identically embodied panels ( 2 ) can be joined and locked to one another in the horizontal and vertical direction by an essentially vertical joining movement, wherein the locking in the vertical direction can be produced by at least one tongue element formed in one piece from the core and moveable in the horizontal direction, which tongue element during the joining movement snaps in behind a locking edge extending essentially in the horizontal direction and the tongue element is exposed by means of at least one essentially vertical slot with respect to the core, and at least one of the slots is not embodied in a continuous manner over the entire length of the side edge, wherein the at least one non-continuous slot is produced by at least one guided tool ( 41 ) such that the panel ( 2 ) is conveyed in a transport direction (x) under the tool ( 41 ), the tool ( 41 ) dips into the core of the panel ( 2 ) by means of a swivel motion and is lifted out again in the opposite direction before the panel ( 2 ) has been completely conveyed past under the tool ( 41 ).

The invention relates to a method for processing a side edge of a panel,in particular a floor panel, with a top and a bottom, which on at leasttwo side edges lying opposite one another has profiles corresponding toone another such that two identically embodied panels can be joined andlocked to one another in the horizontal and vertical direction by anessentially vertical joining movement, wherein the locking in thevertical direction can be produced by at least one tongue element formedin one piece from the core and moveable in the horizontal direction,which tongue element during the joining movement snaps in behind alocking edge extending essentially in the horizontal direction and thetongue element is exposed by means of at least one essentially verticalslot with respect to the core, and at least one of the slots is notembodied in a continuous manner over the entire length of the side edge.

A panel of this type is described in German patent application 10 2007041 024.9, the disclosure of which is referenced herewith in itsentirety.

Panels in which the locking is carried out via a plastic insert, areknown, e.g., from EP 1 650 375 A1. The type of locking realized withthis type of panels is preferably provided on the transverse side offloor panels. However, it can also be provided on the longitudinal sideor on the longitudinal side as well as on the transverse side. Thetongue element is composed of plastic and is inserted in a grooverunning horizontally on one of the side edges and beveled on the top.Similar to a door latch, by means of the bevel the tongue element ispressed inwards into the groove by the panel to be newly set, when theunderside of this panel meets the bevel and is further lowered. When thepanel to be newly laid has been lowered completely to the subfloor, thetongue element snaps into a groove inserted horizontally in the oppositeside edge and locks the two panels in the vertical direction. Specialinjection molds are necessary for the production of this tongue element,so that the production is relatively expensive. Furthermore, a highquality plastic must be used in order to provide adequate strengthvalues, which makes the tongue element even more expensive. If plasticsare used with strength values that are too low, this leads to relativelylarge dimensions of the tongue elements, since this is the only way toensure that corresponding forces can be generated or transmitted.

Additional expenses result because the locking element is embodied as aseparate component. The production of the locking element is carried outspatially separately from the panels for technological reasons, so thatan integration into the continuous production process, in particular forfloor panels, is likely to be impossible. Through the differentmaterials, wood material on the one hand and plastic on the other hand,the adjustment of production tolerances from two separate productionprocesses is complex and cost-intensive. Since the locking in thevertical direction would be ineffective if the locking element weremissing, in addition, this must be secured from falling out of thegroove inserted in the side edge in the further production process andduring transport. This securing is also complex. Alternatively thereto,the locking element could be made available to the consumer separately.

The floor panels under consideration are being laid with increasingfrequency by do-it-yourselfers, so that, in principle, it is possible,due to a lack of experience, for the required number of locking elementsto be initially miscalculated and not obtained in sufficient quantity inorder to be able to lay a room completely. Furthermore, it cannot beruled out that the do-it-yourselfer will make a mistake upon placinginserting the tongue element, which means that precise locking is notpossible and the bond separates over time, which is then wronglyattributed by the consumer to the quality supplied by the manufacturer.

Panels are known from DE 102 24 540 A1, which are profiled on two sideedges lying opposite one another such that hook-shaped connectionelements are formed for locking in the horizontal direction. For lockingin the vertical direction, positive engagement elements spaced apartfrom one another horizontally and vertically are provided on theconnection elements and undercuts corresponding thereto are providedwith respectively one horizontally aligned locking surface. Thetransverse extension of horizontally aligned locking surfaces of thistype is approx. 0.05 to 1.0 mm. The dimensioning must be so small inorder for the joining of two panels to remain possible at all. However,this inevitably means that only low, vertically directed forces can beabsorbed, so that production must be carried out with extremely lowtolerances in order to ensure that the connection does not spring openwith normal stress in the case of even slight irregularities in thefloor and/or soft subfloors.

The tongue element is embodied in one piece from the core so that theadjustment of the tolerances of different components is omitted and inaddition it is ensured that no components are missing with the end user.

In order to make it possible to connect the tongue element to the coreand at the same time to be able to realize an elasticity of theelements, it is necessary to carry out milling cuts that are notcontinuous, but are discontinuous. If this is achieved in terms ofmilling technology, the panel must not be moved during the millingoperation, since otherwise continuous cuts would be made with theexisting high throughput speeds. A milling operation would thus be veryslow with the braking of the panel to a halt, dipping and moving themilling unit and the subsequent acceleration of the finished panel forfurther transport.

One possibility for producing corresponding millings with tools is tomount the tools on a traversing unit that transports the tools in thefeed direction (transport direction) of the panels. The time in whichthe insert millings are produced is considerably increased thereby,whereby commercially available motor spindles can also performcorresponding movements of the tools in order to carry out thereferenced millings.

However, the disadvantage of this production variant is, on the onehand, the high expenditure in terms of equipment and, on the other hand,the large space requirement, which results from the moveability of thetools in the feed direction of the panels. However, this additionalspace requirement is too large for already existing installations, intowhich a further processing position is to be integrated, and thus onlyuseful for newly designed installations.

Since formations of this type cannot be produced on one-piece panelswith conventional milling units in a continuous pass, it is necessary toseparate the panels to be processed and to process them in a stationarymanner. This is very time-intensive and therefore also cost-intensive.

The production of a panel of this type is complex in particular when aplurality of tongue elements is provided and also a corresponding numberof locking edges is to be provided to this end in the groove, becausethen travelling tools must then be provided on both side edges. In somecases there is no room for this in conventional milling stations, sothat different clampings are necessary on different machines, whichincreases the production time and requires correspondingly generoustolerances.

A method for inserting a locking groove by means of a milling tool isknown from DE 10 2005 026 554 A1, which contains a drive, a milling headand a transmission device for transmitting the rotation as well as amounting for the milling head. Because of the mounting, the milling headhas a free radius on the mounting side, which makes it possible for itto be located completely in the part of the connection groove surroundedby groove flanks on both sides during the insertion of the lockinggroove.

To solve the problem it is provided that the at least one non-continuousslot is produced by a tool preferably guided on a circular path suchthat the panel is conveyed in a transport device under the tool, thetool dips into the core of the panel by means of a swivel motion and islifted out again in the opposite direction before the panel has beencompletely conveyed past under the tool.

Through this embodiment it is possible to embody the previously rigidvertical locking means in a flexible manner and to produce geometriesthat do not extend over the entire length of a panel. The spacerequirement necessary is very small due to the swivel motion of thetool, so that a convention double-ended profiler can be used, at the endof which an additional processing station for the production of the atleast one non-continuous slot is flange-mounted.

To expose the tongue element with respect to the core, preferablyadditionally at least one essentially horizontal slot can be provided.

Preferably several non-continuous slots are produced in that a pluralityof tools spaced apart from one another is provided in the transportdirection of the panels, which tools dip into the core of the panelsimultaneously.

A device for carrying out the method is characterized in that at leastone milling tool, a laser tool, a water-jet or sandblasting device or aplasma arc torch is attached to a swivel-mounted carrier, which can beactuated via a servo motor or a telescopic cylinder.

In order to be able to produce several slots at the same time, it is inparticular advantageous if several tools are arranged one behind theother on the carrier based on the transport direction of the panel. Itis also conceivable that the slots are punched.

In order to keep the space requirement as small as possible, in additionto the at least one tool, preferably the drive thereof, which comprisesa motor and a transmission, is also arranged on the carrier. Each toolcan be operated by a separate motor. However, a motor can also beprovided for the drive of several tools.

An exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention isdescribed in more detail below with the aid of a drawing. They show:

FIG. 1 The plan view of the side edge I of a panel;

FIG. 2 The plan view of the opposite side edge II of the same panel;

FIG. 3 The view according to sight arrow III according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 The view of the panel according to sight arrow IV according toFIG. 2;

FIG. 5 The plan view of a diagrammatically represented profilingapparatus;

FIG. 6 The section along the line VI-VI according to FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 The bottom view of a milled panel;

FIG. 8 The representation of two panels connected to one another of afirst embodiment in section at the joint;

FIG. 9 The representation of two panels connected to one another of asecond embodiment in section at the joint;

FIG. 10 The diagrammatic plan view of a double-ended profiler;

FIG. 11 The diagrammatic plan view of a processing station;

FIG. 12 a The section along the line XII-XII according to FIG. 11 in thelifted position of the tool;

FIG. 12 b The section along the line XII-XII according to FIG. 11 in thelowered position of the tool;

FIG. 13 a A schematic sketch of an alternative device for moving aprocessing tool in the functionless position;

FIG. 13 b A schematic sketch of an alternative device for moving aprocessing tool in the functional position;

FIG. 14 a A schematic sketch of an alternative device for moving aprocessing tool in the functionless position;

FIG. 14 b A schematic sketch of an alternative device for moving aprocessing tool in the functional position;

FIG. 15 a A schematic sketch of an alternative device for moving aprocessing tool in the functionless position;

FIG. 15 b A schematic sketch of an alternative device for moving aprocessing tool in the functional position.

The panels 1, 2 are embodied identically. They comprise a core 17 of awood material or a wood material/plastic mixture. The panels 1, 2 areprofiled on their side edges I, II lying opposite one another, whereinthe side edge I was milled from the top 18 and the side edge II wasmilled from the bottom 19. The tongue element is embodied on the sideedge II, which was produced by milling free the core 17, in that ahorizontal slot 11 and a slot 10 essentially running vertically weremilled. The side edges I, II have the length L. In the longitudinaldirection of the side edge II, the tongue element 3 is connected at itsends 3 a, 3 b to the core material. The exposure of the tongue element 3from the core 17 is carried out exclusively through the slots 10, 11.The outer edge 3 c of the tongue element 3 is tilted at an angle α withrespect to the top 18 of the panel 2. The vertical surfaces of the sideedges I, II are machined such that contact surfaces 15, 16 are formed inthe area of the top 18.

On the side edge I lying opposite the tongue element 3, the panel I isprovided with a locking lug 22 extending essentially in the horizontaldirection H, the lower side wall of which forms a locking edge 4 runningessentially horizontally. The locking lug 22 projects laterally over thecontact surface 16 of the panel 1. Below the locking lug 22 a groove 9is embodied, which accommodates a part of the tongue element 3 forlocking two panels 1, 2 in the vertical direction V. As shown in FIG. 2,the groove bottom 9 a of groove 9 runs parallel to the outer edge 3 c ofthe tongue element 3, which facilitates the production of the groove 9,but it could also be embodied strictly in the vertical direction V or atan angle deviating from the angle α. The locking lug 22 is shortcompared to the length of the hook element 20. Between the top of thelocking lug 22 and the contact surface 16 a dust pocket 23 is formedfrom the material of the core 17 on the side edge I of the panel 1.

The locking of the two panels 1, 2 in the horizontal direction H iscarried out via the hook elements 20, 21 produced by milling through astepped profile and in the vertical direction V via the tongue element 3in connection with the locking edge 4 on the locking lug 22. An at leastpartially planar top surface 12 is embodied on the shoulder 5, extendingdownwards, of the hook element 21, which top surface interacts with acontact surface 13 embodied on the hook element 20 on the opposite sideedge I, which contact surface projects back behind the projection 6. Thetop surface 12 and the contact surface 13 end in the same horizontalplane E, so that the panels 1, 2 connected to one another are supportedon one another. The surface 24 of the hook element 21 facing towards thecore 17 runs tilted with respect to the vertical and together with thecorrespondingly tilted surface 25 facing towards the core 17 forms alocking edge of two connected panels 1, 2 on the shoulder. The profilingof the hook elements 20, 21 is selected such that a preloading isproduced in the joint and the vertical contact surfaces 15, 16 of thepanels 1, 2 are pressed towards one another, so that no visible gapresults on the top 18 of two panels 1, 2 connected to one another. Inorder to make it easier to join the panels, 1, 2, the shoulder 6,projecting upwards, of the hook element 20 and the shoulder 5,projecting downwards, of the hook element 21 are beveled or blunted ontheir edges. In order to simplify the production to embody the tongueelement 3, either the slots 11 running horizontally (FIGS. 2, 4) or theslot 10 running essentially vertically (FIGS. 6, 8) can be continuous,that is extend over the full length L of the side edge II.

The panel 2 is connected to the panel I already lying on the subfloor,in that the panel 2 is placed against the side edge I of the panel 1 andlowered in the direction of the subfloor by an essentially verticaljoining connection. When the lower edge 3 d of the tongue element 3comes into contact with the top 18 of the panel 1, it is pressed in thedirection of the core 17 with the further joining movement due to itsouter side edge 3 c running at an angle α upon contact with the contactsurface 16, so that it deflects in the direction H. The panel 2 islowered further downwards. Once the tongue element 3 reaches a positionwith respect to the groove 9, it is springs out due to the restoringforces inherent in the material and then snaps into the groove 9, whereit bears against the locking edge 4 with its top 3 e running essentiallyhorizontally. At the same time, the hook elements 20, 21 engage untilthe top surface 12 is supported on the contact surface 13. The panels 1,2 are then connected and locked to one another. The inner wall 10 a ofthe slot 10 serves as limit of the deflection path of the tongue element3 in order to prevent the connection of the tongue element 3 at its ends3 a, 3 b with the core 17 from being torn out due to a dipping movementtoo far. The surface, i.e., the height and the width, to which the ends3 a, 3 b are connected to the core 17, determine the spring rate of thetongue element 3. As FIG. 2 shows, three tongue elements 3 can beembodied over the length L of the side edge II and three locking lugs 22can be formed on the opposite side edge I. It is also definitelyconceivable to embody the tongue elements 3 to be shorter and to providefive, six or even seven or more tongue elements 3 and correspondinglocking lugs 22.

When the vertical slot 10 is embodied to be narrow enough, it ispossible to keep the tongue element 3 connected to the core 17 only atone of its ends 3 a or 3 b. An embodiment of this type has the advantagethat the tongue element 3 can also expand in the direction of the lengthL of the side edge II. The then free end 3 a or 3 b is then supported onthe inner wall 10 a of the slot 10. FIG. 2 shows that vertical slots 10are provided over the length L of the panel 3. FIG. 6 shows a panel withthree slots 11 running horizontally.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the panels 1′, 2′ in which the tongueelement 3 is exposed with respect to the core 17 only by one or morevertical slots 10. In this embodiment, the tongue element 3′ is providedon the hook element 20′ forming a lower lip. The locking is carried outper se analogously to the previously described exemplary embodiment.

The locking is releasable in all of the exemplary embodiments, in thatthe panels 1, 1′, 2, 2′ are displaced relative to one another along theside edges I, II or in that an unlocking pin (not shown) is insertedlaterally into the joint.

The panels 1, 2 are usually provided on their top 18 with a pattern thatcan be printed directly onto the top 18. The pattern is usually coveredby a wear-resistant layer, into which a structure corresponding to thepattern can be embossed.

This type of locking described above is preferably provided on thetransverse side of panels 1, 2, which on their longitudinal side can beconnected to one another through angling in and pivoting down onto thesubfloor, as is described in DE 102 24 540 A1. However, it is alsoconceivable to embody this profiling on the longitudinal sides as wellas on the transverse sides, so that the panels can be connected andlocked to one another on all side edges by a purely vertical joiningmovement.

The processing station according to the invention, which is showndiagrammatically in FIGS. 5 and 6, comprises a double-ended profilerknown from the prior art, such as is sold, for example, by Homag underthe name “Powerline,” with processing stations additionallyflange-mounted thereto.

The double-ended profiler 30 fundamentally comprises two profilingmachines 36 that are largely identical but structured in amirror-inverted manner, wherein one of the profiling machines 36 isfirmly anchored to the subfloor and the other is arranged on slide railsthat make it possible for it to move in the y direction.

The profiling machines 36 in turn each comprises two parts. A chainconveyor 31, which has a chain with chain links mounted on rollerbearings and a so-called top pressure. The top pressure essentiallycomprises a flexible belt and is spring-mounted. The chain conveyor 31as well as the top pressure (not shown here) of both profiling machines36 are connected to one another with the aid of long shafts and drivenby the same motors. Both machine parts of a profiling machine can bedisplaced with respect to one another in the z direction, wherein thechain conveyor 30 located below is connected fixedly to the subfloor inthe vertical direction. Usually, the top pressure located above islowered to the chain conveyor 31 until the spring-mounted belt comesinto contact with the conveyor chain of the chain conveyor 31, wherebythe panels 1, 2 to be transported are pressed onto the conveyor chainand fixed there.

The chain conveyor 31 is fixedly connected to a machine frame, which inaddition to ducts for chip suctioning and some electronic componentsalso contains motor mounts with milling motors respectively attachedthereto. These motor mounts render possible a free infeed of the motorsin an established area in the y and z direction and a rotation about thex axis when the installation is at rest. Through these adjustmentoptions it is possible to adjust the side milling cutters flange-mountedto the engines such that the panels 2 conveyed past in the transportdirection T can be machined. The motors, and thus the individualprocessing stations 32, 32 a, 33, 33 a, 34, 34 a, 35, 35 a, are arrangedoppositely in pairs one behind the other in an alignment based on thetransport direction T. The milling cutters not shown in detail here havea structure such that by covering all essentially four to fiveprocessing stations 32, 33, 34, 35; 32 a, 33 a, 34 a, 35 a half of acommercially conventional glueless connection profile can be produced oneach side edge I, II.

In order to prevent inaccuracies or looseness in the bearing of thechain links from being transferred to the panels 2 to be processed,which would make an exact milling of the profiles impossible, theprofiling machines 36 have precisely defined datum planes. In the caseof these profiling machines, these datum planes are realized in the formof so-called supports, which are firmly fixed to the chain conveyors 36and on the top thereof have a polished hard metal plate 37, whichrepresents the datum plane. The panels 2 to be profiled slide over thisplate 37 during the processing. In order to ensure that a removal of thepanels 2 from these plates 37 does not occur, they are pressed byso-called pressure shoes 38 onto the hard metal plate 37. The pressureshoes 38 are moved by pneumatic cylinders in the direction of the hardmetal plate 37, which renders possible a free adjustability of thespring force to be applied.

This double-ended profiler structured in this manner and known per se issupplemented according to the invention by a further processing station40 which differs fundamentally from the processing stations describedabove. In the processing station 40 the construction permits acontrolled movement of the milling tools 41 during the processing,whereby the production of non-continuous slots is possible. The systemof the processing station 40 is fundamentally identical on both machinesides in principle, wherein the installations differ, however, in thaton the one machine side the milling tools 41 can be moved dynamicallyessentially in the z direction and on the other machine side the millingtools 41 can be moved dynamically essentially in the y direction.

Several smaller milling tools 41 with a diameter of 30 to 50 mm arearranged one behind the other in the transport direction T. The numberof the milling tools 41 per processing station 40 corresponds to thecontours to be produced. Usually two to four milling tools 41 are used.These milling tools 41 are flange-mounted to an auxiliary gearbox 42that is driven by a motor 43. The motor 43 can be firmly connected tothe gearbox 42. However, the power transmission can also be carried outflexibly via a toothed belt or a flexible shaft. The gearbox 42 and themilling tools 41 and optionally also the motor 43 are attached at oneend of a swivel-mounted carrier 44. The carrier 44 is swivel-mounted viajoint 45 between its end points similar to a rocker. On the end of thecarrier 44 lying opposite the milling tools 41, a servo motor 46 isattached with a displacement spindle 47, which can move the carrier 44and thus the milling tools 41 attached to the other end on a circulartrack (arrow P) around the joint 45. A telescopic cylinder can be usedinstead of a servo motor 46. Instead of a displacement spindle 47, theservo motor 46 can also interact with a radial cam, a crankshaft driveor a system with similar mode of operation.

Alternatively, a system can be used that has only a milling tool 41,which is attached directly to the milling motor. The motor and millingtool 41 are firmly connected to a highly dynamic linear motor (notshown) which, together with a balancing spring element (not shown),renders possible very rapid movements of the motor and milling tool 41in the z direction or y direction. With a system of this type, cycletimes of approx. 100 to 200 panels 2 per minute are possible, because ithas higher dynamics than the system previously described with which 50to 100 panels 2 per minute can be milled.

The panels 2 are fed into the double ended profiler 30. The separationof the panels 2 inserted into a loader is thereby carried out by themovement of the chain conveyor 31, wherein cams (not shown) installed onindividual chain links respectively draw one panel 2 out of the loader.The respective panels 2 are moved via the chain conveyor 31 in thetransport direction T (x direction). After a short conveyor path, eachpanel 2 arrives under the top pressure belt and is pressed firmlythereby onto the chain conveyor 31. With further conveyance of the panel2 in the transport direction T, this panel enters the first processingstation 32. It initially runs thereby onto the support 37 present ateach processing station 32, 33, 34, 35 and is pressed thereon by thepressure shoe 38 likewise present. When approximately the center of thesupport 37 has been reached, the milling cutter set in rotation by amotor catches into the panel 2 and begins the machining. The processingin the individual stations 32, 33, 34, 35 is structured such that thefirst milling tool 41 takes over the rough preliminary chip removal andthe breaking of the hard decorative layer, the tool of the secondstation 33 and that of the last processing station 35 mill the actualholding profile into the panels 2, which in this case is a hook profilewith rigid locking surfaces for vertical locking.

The tool of the third processing station 34 is essentially responsiblefor the production of a clean closing edge and/or for the production ofa bevel on the decorative side 18 of the panel 2. Once the panel 2 haspassed this processing station 34, it has a complete hook profile withrigid vertical locking.

If the panel 2 runs into the processing station 40 according to theinvention additionally flange-mounted to the double ended profiler 30, acontrol signal is triggered by a sensor 48 (cf. FIG. 10), which controlsignal activates the servo motor 46, whereby the carrier 44 is swiveledabout the joint 45 and the milling tools 41 dip from the underside 19 ofthe panel 2 into the core 17 and mill in the slots 10. At the same timea number of slots 10 are produced, which corresponds to the number ofthe milling tools 41 in the processing station 40. Before the panel 2has completely passed through the processing station 40, the carrier 44is swiveled back and the milling tools 41 are drawn out of the core 17of the panel 2 so that slots 10 are produced which do not extend overthe full length L of the side edge (here the transverse side).

The dipping of the milling tools 41 is carried out while the panel 2 isbeing transported. FIG. 2 shows the intake 10 b and outlet 10 c of themilling tool 41, with which the vertical slot 10 is milled. FIG. 6 showsthe intake 11 b and the outlet 11 c of the milling tool 41, with whichthe horizontal slot 11 was milled. The intakes 10 b, 11 b and theoutlets 10 c, 11 c are arched, wherein the radius depends on the feedrate of the panel 2. FIGS. 10, 12 show a panel 2 in which three verticalslots 10 as well as three horizontal slots 11 with the correspondingintakes 10 b, 11 b and outlets 10 c. 11 c.

The alternative processing system with only one milling tool 41 canlikewise produce a non-continuous contour with the aid of correspondingmovement of the linear motor. However, since only one milling tool 41 isused, this system must perform several infeed motions accordingly toproduce the same number of contours.

In order to render possible an exact movement control with bothvariants, furthermore data, such as control signals of the doubled endedprofile 30 and sensor data (for example from rotary encoders) are usedto the light barriers used.

The processing station 40, with which the vertical slots 10 are producedhas been described. If the horizontal slots 11 are to be milled, theprocessing station 40 can be arranged at the same location. The carrier44 is arranged rotated by 90° accordingly so that the milling tool 41then on a circular track dips into the core 17 which runs tangentiallyto the top 18 of the panel 2 and not to the side edge.

FIGS. 11 and 12 a, 12 b show a device with which respectively onemilling tool 41 of a processing station 40 can be swiveled from aninactive position into the processing position. The motor 43 and thetransmission 42 are respectively attached to the bottom of the carrier44. An actuator 50 is attached by one end with a joint 51 to the housing49 of the processing station 40 and by the other end on a joint 52 tothe carrier 44. When the actuator rod 54 is retracted and extended thecarrier 44 and thus the milling tool 41 moves around the shaft 53. Tothis end the carrier 44 is attached to the shaft 53 via a bearing block39.

FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 show basic alternatives to the actuator 50 in orderto bring the milling tool 41 into its operating position. The carrier 44on which the milling tool 41 is attached, can be moved into a guide 62via a cam 60 driven in a rotary manner. The cam 60 presses the carrier44 in the direction of the panel 1. The restoring force is generated bythe springs 61 (FIG. 13). With the principle explained in FIG. 14, thecarrier 44 can be displaced in the transport direction T as well as in adirection perpendicular thereto, that is in the horizontal direction Hor the vertical direction V. Through the rotary motion of the crank disk70 by means of the connecting rod 71 the displacement parallel to thetransport direction T is initiated. With this movement the carrier 44passes a cam 73, via which then the movement is initiated in a directionV or H perpendicular to the transport direction T. The carrier 44 thenslides in guide 72 in the direction of the panel 1 so that the millingtool 41 can be brought into contact with the panel 1. In the driveprinciple shown in the FIG. 15, the carrier 44 is connected to the crankdisk 80 directly so that via the crank disk 80 a movement issimultaneously initiated in the transport direction T and in a directionV or H that is perpendicular thereto.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

 1 Panel  1′ Panel  2 Panel  2′ Panel  3 Tongue element  3′ Tongueelement  3a End  3b End  3c Outer edge  3d Lower edge  3e Top  4 Lockingedge  5 Shoulder  6 Shoulder  9 Groove  9a Groove bottom 10 Slot 10aInner wall 10b Intake 10c Outlet 11 Slot 11b Intake 11c Outlet 12 Topsurface 13 Contact surface 14 Dust pocket 15 Vertical surface/contactsurface 16 Vertical surface/contact surface 17 Core 18 Top 19 Bottom 20Hook element 20′ Hook element 21 Hook element 22 Lockingelements/locking lug 23 Dust pocket 24 Surface 30 Double ended profiler31 Chain conveyor 32 Processing station 32a Processing station 33Processing station 33a Processing station 34 Processing station 34aProcessing station 35 Processing station 35a Processing station 36Profiling machine 37 Contact surface/hard metal plate 38 Pressure shoe39 Bearing hole 40 Processing station 41 Milling tool 42 Transmission 43Motor 44 Carrier 45 Joint 46 Servo motor 47 Spindle 48 Sensor 49 Housing50 Actuator 51 Joint 52 Joint 53 Shaft 60 Cam 61 Spring 62 Guide 70Crank disk 71 connecting rod 72 Guide 73 Cam 80 Crank disk 81 Connectingrod E Plane E1 Plane H Horizontal direction L Length P Circular track TTransport direction V Vertical direction I Side edge II Side edge αAngle

1. A method for processing a side edge of a panel with a core, which onat least two side edges lying opposite has profiles corresponding to oneanother such that two identically embodied panels can be joined andlocked to one another in the horizontal and vertical direction by anessentially vertical joining movement, wherein the locking in thevertical direction can be produced by at least one tongue element formedin one piece from the core and moveable in the horizontal direction, thetongue element during the joining movement snaps in behind a lockingedge extending essentially in the horizontal direction and the tongueelement is exposed by at least one essentially vertical slot withrespect to the core, and at least one of the slots is not embodied in acontinuous manner over the entire length of the side edge, wherein theat least one non-continuous slot is produced by at least one tool suchthat the panel is conveyed in a transport direction under the tool, thetool dips into the core of the panel by a swivel motion and is liftedout again in the opposite direction before the panel has been completelyconveyed past under the tool.
 2. The method according to claim 1,wherein the tool is guided on a circular track.
 3. The method accordingto claim 1, further comprising machining is carried out in a chipremoving manner.
 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprisingto produce several non-continuous slots a plurality of tools spacedapart from one another is provided in the transport direction, whereinthe tools dip into the core of the panel simultaneously.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising additionally at least oneessentially horizontal slot is provided to expose the tongue element.6.-12. (canceled)